Carton



Sept. 6, 1955 o. L. VINES 2,717,115

CARTON Filed Dec. 27, 1950 i 4%? a FIG.5

FIG. 7-

INVENTOR draw 1. Km

22 [1,53 il/s ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,717,115 CARTON Oscar L. Vines, New York, N. Y., assignor to Alford Cartons, Ridgefield Park, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey This invention relates to cartons and, more particularly, to partitioned cartons in which the carton and its partitions are formed from a single blank.

In the packaging of a plurality of articles such as fruits and the like in cartons for distribution and sale, there is a need for partitioned cartons which will maintain individual separation of the packaged articles. It is also a common requirement of all cartons filled with a plurality of such articles that the articles be held securely within the carton. Both of the aforementioned requirements have been made difficult to attain by the desirability of incorporating in such carton structures the further feature of exposure of the articles to visual inspection by a prospective purchaser.

The partitioned carton of my present invention is characterized by attributes which meet all of the demands for a carton for articles such as fruits and the like. This carton comprises a substantially rectangular blank composed essentially of a top panel, a bottom panel and two side panels. The top panel is provided with a plurality of pairs of fold sections with the sections of each pair adapted to be folded downwardly and divergently inwardly into the interior of the erected carton about fold lines extending substantially transversely across the top panel. A characteristic feature of the carton of my invention is that the central portions of the fold lines of each pair of fold sections are spaced further apart than the extremities thereof so that the folding of each sectiondownwardly and inwardly into the erected carton causes the central portion of the top panel adjacent the fold lines to be arched. The aforementioned fold sections are defined by providing the blank with a plurality of pairs of spaced and substantially coextensive cutout lines disposed substantially longitudinally of and adjacent the top panel. Each pair of spaced cutout lines is connected substantially centrally thereof by a transverse cutout line and terminally thereof with transverse score lines. The spaced cutout lines may be disposed in the top panel itself or they may be disposed in the side panels of the blank so as to define cutout sections in the side panels which expose more of the articles within the carton for visual inspection.

These and other novel features of the carton structure of my invention will be further understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a representative portion of a blank from which the partitioned carton of my invention is formed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective partial view of a carton formed and erected from the blank of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken along line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a representative portion of a carton blank embodying another modification pursuant to the invention; v

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one end portion of a carton formed and erected from the blank of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows a representative portion of a carton blank embodying another modification pursuant to the invention;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one end portion of a carton formed and erected from the blank of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows a representative portion of a carton blank provided with end sections adapted to provide enclosure of the end of the erected carton;

2,7 l 7,1 15 Patented Sept. 6, 1955 ice Fig. 9 is a perspective end view of a portion of a carton formed and erected from the blank of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 shows a representative portion of a blank for another modification of a partitioned carton pursuant to the invention; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an end portion of the carton formed and erected from the blank of Fig. 10.

The carton blank 12 shown partially in Fig. 1 is substantially rectangular in shape and is provided with transverse score lines 13, 14, and 16 which divide the blank essentially into a glue flap 17, a side wall panel 18, a top panel 19, a second side wall panel and a bottom panel 21. The blank is further provided with a plurality of pairs of spaced and substantially coextensive cutout lines 22 which, in the modification shown in Fig. l, are disposed along the score lines 14 and 15 defining the top panel 19. Each pair of spaced cutout lines 22 is connected substantially centrally thereof by cutout line 23, and each pair of cutout lines 22 is connected at the ends thereof by a pair of transverse score lines 24 and 25. The transverse score lines 24 and are not straight but are bowed or otherwise configured so that the central portions of each pair thereof are spaced further apart than the extremities of these score lines adjacent their connection to the ends of the cutout lines 22.

The structural effect of the centrally diverging pairs of transverse score lines 24 and 25 is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In order to form and erect the carton shown in these figures, the blank 12 is folded along the score lines 13, 14, 15 and 16 and the glue flap 17 is adhesively secured to the bottom panel 21. It will be observed that the portion of the blank defined by the spaced cutout lines 22 and the transverse score lines 24 and 25 is divided into two sections 26 and 27 by the central cutout line 23. Thus, by pressing downwardly on the sections 26 and 27 so as to fold these sections downwardly and divergently inwardly into the interior of the erected carton, the sections 26 and 27 form partition walls extending at least partially downwardly into the interior of the carton.

The bowed configuration of the score lines 24 and 25, forming the upper ends of the fold sections 26 and 27 when these sections are folded into the interior of the carbon, causes the central portion of the top panel adjacent each score line 24 and 25 to be arched, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. The bowed configuration of the score lines 24 and 25 also imparts a concave shape to the surfaces of the partition sections 26 and 27. The arching of the top panel 19 intermediate the side wall panels not only provides a raised and structurally rigid protective surface about the level of the articles within the carton but also further imparts to the partition sections 26 and 27 a resilient tendency to firmly engage each article positioned between cooperating sections 26 and 27. The concave shape of these sections particularly adapts each receptacle formed thereby to the reception of the somewhat rounded shape characteristic of most fruits.

If it is desired to increase the extent of exposure of the articles within the carton to visual inspection, the carton blank may be modified advantageously as shown in Fig. 4. In this modification, the spaced and substantially coextensive cutout lines 22 are not positioned along the score lines 14 and 15 defining the top panel 19 but are disposed in the side panels 18 and 20 while nevertheless communicating with, or being adjacent, the top panel.

' Thus, the cutout lines 22 may take the form of a trough or channel, or the like, extending from the top panel 19 divergently away from .oneanother to a position deeperinto each of the side panels. The portions of the re= sulting partition sections 26 and 27 defined by the cutout lines 22, the top panel score lines 14 and 15 and the transverse cutout line 23, form side flaps 28 and 29 adjacent the side edges of the partition sections 26 and 27, respectively. Thus, when the carton blank of Fig. 4 is erected as described hereinbefore, the trough-like or channel-like opening which each cutout line 22 forms in the side wall panel (Fig. 5) provides the desired increase in exposure of the articles positioned within the carton between the cooperating partition sections 26 and 27. As the partition sections are folded downwardly and divergently inwardly into the interior of the erected carton, the side flaps 28 and 29 are bent along the score lines 14 and 15 and lie against the inner surface of the side walls 18 and 20. If the trough formed by the cutout lines 22 is V- shaped with the lines 22 joining the score lines 14 and 15 at an angle of 45, the side flaps 28 and 29 will not only lie against but will be completely obscured by the side walls 18 and 20 of the carton. On the other hand, if the cutout lines 22 are arcuate in shape, as shown in Fig. 6, the trough or channel formed thereby in the side walls 18 and 20 will be similarly arcuate in shape and the side flaps 28 and 29 will be only partly hidden behind the side walls, as can be seen in Fig. 7.

If it is desired to ultimately wrap a film of transparent material about the carton loaded with the articles, the ends of the carton should be provided with a flush and rigid surface against which the wrapping material may be folded and pressed for sealing. Such a flush end is illustrated in the modification shown in blank form in Fig. 8 and in erected form in Fig. 9. In the blank, the side wall panels 18 and 20 are provided with extending end flaps 30 and 31, respectively, and the top panel 19 is provided with an extending end tuck 32. In the erected carton, the end flaps 30 and 31, being folded inwardly across the end of the carton, tend to support the tuck flap 32 and hold it rigid in position adjacent the end of the carton.

The modification of carton blank shown in Fig is adapted to form a carton shown in Fig. 11 having side walls extending upwardly above the level of the top panel 19. In the blank shown in Fig. 10, the top and bottom panels are the same as in the previously described blanks, the ditference residing essentially in the transposition of the panels across the blank and in the width of the side panels. Thus, the blank of Fig. 10 comprises the glue flap 17, then the top panel 19 defined by the score lines 14 and 15, and next a wide side wall panel defined by score lines and 16 and divided into two sections a and 2011 by another score line 33 parallel to the score lines 15 and 16. The bottom panel 21 adjoins the side wallpanel 20b, and the next and last panel comprises a relatively wide side Wall panel 18. In forming the blank of Fig. 10 into the carton of Fig. 11, the glue flap 17 is bent downwardly along score line 14, the blank is bent upwardly along score line 15 and then downwardly along score line 33 so as to bring the side wall panel sections 2911 and 20b into juxtaposition as shown in Fig. 11. The glue flap 17 is secured to a substantially intermediate portion of the wide side wall panel 13. The resulting structure, it will be seen, comprises a carton substantially the same as those described hereinbefore except that the side wall panel 18 and the side wall panel section 20b, both of the same height in the erected carton, project upwardly well above the level of the top panel 19 so as to provide structurally strong support for superadjaeent stacked cartons and thereby prevent damage to the articles positioned within the carton receptacles. The carton shown in Figs. 10 and 11 may advantageously be provided with end flaps and end tuck as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 if it is desired to wrap a transparent material about the erected and loaded carton.

It will be seen, accordingly, that the carton structure of my invention provides a partitioned carton formed from a one-piece blank. The articles positioned within each receptacle formed by cooperating partitioned members are firmly held by the partition members themselves and are clearly exposed to visual inspection.

4 I claim: 1. A partitioned carton comprising a top panel, a bottorn panel and two side panels, the side panels being provided with a plurality of pairs of spaced and substantially congruent and oppositely disposed trough-shaped cut lines disposed longitudinally thereof and having their free ends terminating at the top panel, each pair of cut lines being connected substantially centrally thereof by a transverse cut line extending across the top panel so as to define a pair of fold sections adapted to be folded downwardly and divergently inwardly into the interior of the erected carton, the depth of each fold section being less than the height of the side panels, the fold sections being folded as aforesaid about transverse fold lines joining the respective ends of each pair of longitudinal cut lines, said transverse fold lines being provided by score lines extending divergently inwardly from opposite ends of each longitudinal cut line toward the other cut line of each pair thereof, the central portions of the resulting pairs of transverse fold lines being spaced further apart than the extremities thereof whereby folding of each section downwardly and inwardly into the erected carton causes the central portion of the top panel adjacent each score line to be arched and causes each fold section to assume a substantially concave form, the arching of the top panel causing the side walls to be drawn toward one another so as to firmly engage the lateral ends of each fold section, and the trough-shaped cut lines in the side panels permitting the fold sections to swing freely about the transverse fold lines and thus form partitions adapted to accommodate articles of substantially variant size.

2. A partitioned carton comprising a top panel, a bottom panel and two side panels, the side panels being provided with a plurality of pairs of spaced and sub stantially congruent and oppositely disposed troughshaped cut lines disposed longitudinally thereof and having their free ends terminating at the top panel at an angle of substantially 45", each pair of cut lines being connected substantially centrally thereof by a transverse cut line extending across the top panel so as to define a pair of fold sections adapted to be folded downwardly and divergently inwardly into the interior of the erected carton, the depth of each fold section being less than the height of the side panels, the fold sections being folded as aforesaid about transverse fold lines joining the respective ends of each pair of longitudinal cut lines, said transverse fold lines being provided by score lines extending divergently inwardly from opposite ends of each longitudinal out line toward the other out line of each pair thereof, the central portions of the resulting pairs of transverse fold lines being spaced further apart than the extremities thereof whereby folding of each section downwardly and inwardly into the erected carton causes References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,067,998 Williamson Jan. 19, 1937 2,076,844 Holmes Apr. 13, 1937 2,096,315 Bemiss Oct. 19, 1937 2,366,557 Ran Jan. 2, 1945 2,540,065 Williamson Jan. 30, 1951 2,540,067 Williamson Jan. 30, 1951 2,556,088 Inman June 5, 1951 2,558,714 Williamson June 26, 1951 2,584,595

Kowal Feb. 5, 1952 

